Reed earns warm welcome from Ravens fans in his Texans debut

BALTIMORE – The chant began before Ed Reed even walked out of the Texans’ tunnel.

He was the last of the defensive backs. Head shaking side to side. Eyes hard and locked in. Hands gripping and loosening. Long knowing and already feeling what Sunday and his Ravens return meant for him, his career and his new team.

Reed paced a few more yards, approaching the final stage of the walkway. Then rookie safety D.J. Swearinger jumped up and slapped the 12-year veteran hard on his dark-blue helmet. Reed didn’t budge.

“Ed Reed! Ed Reed!” the Texans shouted, yelling the name after finishing a swagger-filled pregame rap.

Soon, they were strolling through the tunnel.

“Hey, Ed Reed: You’re on the wrong team now,” chirped a Ravens fan.

That was about it for negativity.

As Reed circled the field, making his way toward the Texans’ sideline, the buzz inside M&T Bank Stadium followed. After the Texans fell 30-9 to his old team, Reed was the most popular athlete remaining on the field during his Texans debut. And his name was called out again.

“It was awesome,” Reed said. “When I first ran out, the whole stadium yelled my name. There was so much love and memories that I have here in this city – it’s like my family. It’s something you cherish as a player. Not everybody gets that welcome.”

After the battle was over, a new red No. 20 jersey waved from one side of the tunnel. An old, purple No. 20 swung from the other. Reed laughed and smiled, shaking off the loss and soaking in another moment that will define his Hall of Fame-worthy career.

Then Reed let the game go and became himself.

A 43-year-old man waited in the shadows, sitting in a computerized wheelchair. Reed didn’t hesitate. He walked up to the Houston native, leaned in close to the ex-Rice standout and started to speak.

Reed had found O.J. Brigance.

“He knew I was coming through there. That’s why he came,” Reed said. “I emailed him this week. It was a quick catch-up, man. I told him I love him. He told me the same thing.”

Brigance was at the heart of the Ravens’ 2012 Super Bowl run. The ex-Baltimore linebacker and current Ravens senior advisor to player development has battled Lou Gehrig’s Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) for more than six years. He touched Reed’s old team last season, inspiring the Ravens from Week 1 against Cincinnati to Feb. 3 in New Orleans. Brigance’s spirit got to Reed again Sunday.